Cordage-measuring machine



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

J. D. BOATW RIGHT. GORDAGE MEASURING MACHINE.

No. 530,385. Patent-ed Deb. 4, 1894.

THE uonms PETERS co.. vuorcxu'mm, wAsm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEFFERSON D. BOATWRIGHT, OF BARACHIAS, ALABAMA.

CORDAGE-MEASURING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,385, dated December4, 1894.

Application filed June 28, 1 894:.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEFFERSON D. BOAT- WRIGHT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Barachias, in the county of Montgomery and State ofAlabama, have invented a new and useful Cordage-Measuring Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in machines for measuringcordage in retail stores, and it has for its object to produce a devicewhich will be more accurate, and at the same time one which can beoperated with comparative case.

To this end the invention consists in an improved measuring dial, and ina sliding register connected with the dial and moving in unisontherewith, whereby as the dial operates to register a certain length,the sliding plate or register will indicate each revolution of the dial,and consequently a similar number of its circumferential lengths on therope. Various features of construction and subordinate combinations arecollateral to this main point, and all will be more fully describedhereinafter, and finally embodied in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan view of my machine, showingthe top portion of the frame broken away; Fig. 2, a front elevationthereof; Fig. 3, a horizontal section, taken through the registeringdial or disk; Fig. 4, a vertical cross-section, taken through the axisof said disk; Fig. 5, a detail perspective of the disk aforesaid,together with its shaft and the sliding indicating plate or register,the parts being shown in operative adjustment; Fig. 6, a detailperspective of the rope-severing knife; Fig. 7, a similar view of themeans for adjusting the Wheel which co-operates with the registeringdisk, the view extending to said wheel and to the horizontal plates forsupporting the same; Fig. 8, a detail section of the reel for primarilyreceiving the cordage, showing the means for adjusting the flangesthereon; and Fig. 9, a detail perspective of the reel for receiving themeasured rope.

The frame of the machine consists of a square box 1, the sides of whichare rigidly joined, while the front and rear ends or sides are leftopen. Formed in the rear sides of the box 1, and extending inwardly anddown- Serial No. 515,996. (No model.)

wardly therefrom are the segmental slots 2, Fig. 4. which are preferablythree pairs, and which are adapted to receive the shaft 3 of therope-carrying reel. The shaft 3 extends transversely from one side ofthe frame to the other, and has its ends reduced so as to fit snuglywithin the respective slots 2. The shaft 3 is threaded at its ends, soas to receive the flanges or disks 4, which have central orificestherein similarly threaded and adapted to screw over the threadedportions of the shaft 3, whereby the flanges 4 are secured in place andwhereby they may be adjusted to suit'the size of the coil wound on theshaft 3.

By means of the multiplied number of slots 2 the device may hold aplurality of reels or rolls of cordage, though I have shown but one inthe drawings. Rigidly secured to the bottom of the frame 1, and arisingvertically therefrom to the under side of the top, to both of which theyare secured, are the parallel standards 5, which are provided at theirmiddles with the longitudinally-aligned openings 6, in which the tube 7is securely and immovably fastened. The tube 7 is adapted to receive thecordage from the reel or shaft 3; and the front end of the tube projectsto a point very near the front end of the machine. Fixed. to each sideof the frame 1, at about the middle thereof, are thehorizontally-extending beams 8, which are two in number and which areparallel with each other. The left-hand ends of the beams 8 Fig. 7 areslotted longitudinally, at 9, said slots extending to points very nearthe middles of the beams and being vertically aligned with each other.Located in the slots 9, and extending above and below the same, is thevertical spindle 10, which has affixed thereto, at a point between thebeams 8, the wheel 11, which is grooved on its periphery so as toefiectually engage the cordage or rope being operated upon.

Located on the upper and lower sides, respectively, of the two beams 8are the plates 12, which are one for each beam and which have theirinner ends formed with semi-circular notches 13 therein, adapted toreceive the extremities of the shaft 10, so that said shaft will becapable of revolving therein. The outer ends of the plates 12 arerigidly secured to the vertically-extending plate or beam 14, whichextends through the slots 9 of the beams 8, and which has its endsprojected beyond the beams, and enlarged to an extent commensurate withthe width of the plates 12. By these means the plates 12 are connectedto each other, and made to move in unison.

Bearing against the left-hand side of the plate 14 is the rubberbuffer-block 15, which is located between the beams S, and which isengaged by the set-screw 16, operating in the internally-threadedpassage 17 in the lefthand side of the frame 1. By these means thebuffer 15, and consequently the plate 14, may be moved inwardly causingthe shaft 10 and affixed Wheel 11 to move correspondingly. The purposefor this will appear with more clearness hereinafter. Formed in theplates 8, and in the left-hand portions thereof, are thevertically-aligned openings 18, in which the shaft 19 is revolublymounted. The shaft 19 extends vertically from the top to the bottom ofthe frame and has its respective ends revolubly journaled in the plates20, fixed to the top and bottom of the frame.

Fixed to the shaft 19, at a point between the beams 8, is the measuringdial or disk 21, which is arranged in a horizontal plane with the Wheel11, and which has its roughened periphery 22 in close relation to theperiphery of the wheel 11. The disk 21 has its upper face graduated andprovided with characters indicating three feet or one yard, and the sizeof the disk should be such that its circumference will be equal to thislength. From the tube 7 the cordage or rope passes horizontally betweenthe Wheels or disks l1 and 21. Fixed to the lower end of the shaft 19,by passing through an opening 23 therein, is the pin 24, which has oneend projecting past or beyond the shaft so as to engage with therack-bar 25, of the indicating plate 26. The indicating plate 26 extendshorizontally at the lower portion of the body 1, and is guided by thesimilarly-extending plate 27, fixed to the sides of the body portion andprovided with a rib 28, bearing upon the upper edge of the plate 26,while the lower edge of the plate is confined by a rib 29, adapted toengage the front side thereof. Formed in the sides of the body portion,and directly adjacent to the plate 27, are the horizontally andlaterally aligned slots 30, through which the plate 26 is adapted topass in its operation. The front face of the plate 26 is provided with ascale, which may be of any extent, and which is adapted to have each ofits units register one revolution of the disk 21. This is effected bymeans of the pin 24, which, as has been described, is fixed to the shaft19 and which will engage a tooth on the rack-bar at each revolution ofthe shaft 19. Since the shaft revolves in unison with the disk 21, thisengagement of the pin and rackbar, will be contemporaneous with eachrevolution of said disk. The rib 28 may be provided with a scale line30, which will serve as an indicating line for the plate 26, and it iswith this line that the numeral 1 on said plate should align when theoperation of the machine is started.

Fixed to the front side of the frame 1, and extending verticallythroughout the height thereof, are the beams 31 and 32, which are two innumber and which are substantial duplicates, differing only inhereinafter described details. The beam 31 is provided with anupwardly-extending offset stud 33, which forms an indentation or recess34, and this recess is aligned with a similar recess on the beam 33, andformed by an offset stud 35, similar to the stud 33. Journaled in theserecesses or bearings is the shaft 36, which is provided with reducedportions at said bearings and has its left-hand end extended to permitthe connection of the crank 37 thereto, whereby the shaft is revolved.The righthand end of the shaft 36 is extended beyond the plate 33 and isformed rectangular in cross-section and provided with the disk 38, whichis fixed thereto and located directly adjacent to the beam 32, and withthe disk 39, which is removably secured to the shaft and held in placeby a key 40, passing through an opening 41 in the disk. By these meansthe disk 39 may be removed so as to permit the removal of the coil ofcordage, which may have been wound on the shaft in the operation of themachine. The upper end of the beam 32 is reduced to form thevertically-extending arm 42, to which the bifurcated end of the lever 43is pivotally connected by means of a pin 44. The lever 43 is pivotallyconnected to the vertically-extending knifeplate 45, by means of afulcrum pin 46.

47 indicates a horizontally-extending brace, which is rigidly secured tothe right-hand front of the machine and which extends horizontally tothe brace 32, to which it is firmly secured. Formed in the brace 47 isthe slot 48, in which the knife-plate 45 is located, and through whichthe knife-plate passes in its operation. The knife-plate is providedwith a horizontally-extending opening 49, through which a key 50 maypass to secure the knifeplate in a raised position.

Rigidly secured to the right-hand side of the beam 32, and at the lowerportion thereof, is the block 51, which has its upper end broadened andarranged in approximately horizontal alignment with the wheels 11 and21, so that as the knife-plate 45 is moved downwardly its edge willengage with the upper end of the block 51 and sever the rope which maybe located between the two parts.

In the operation of the invention the cordage to be measured is placedupon the shaft 3, and the disks 4 adjusted so as to hold the roll ofcordage snugly in position. If more than one roll is to be attached tothe machine, this may be done, by multiplying or increasing the numberof shafts 3 and placing them in the additional pairs of slots 2. Afterthe rope has been arranged upon the reel, the

ICC

free end of the former is passed through the tube 7 and between theengaging peripheries of the wheels 11 and 21. Then it is desired tomeasure a length of rope, the disk or wheel 21 is adjusted so that thezero of its scale will register with one side of the upper beam 8; andthe plate 26 is so adjusted that its zero will register with thevertical line 30 of the rib 28. The rope should now be drawn frombetween the wheels 11 and 21, whereupon'the latter wheel will revolve,carrying it with the shaft 19. As the shaft 19 revolves, its pin 24 willengage with that tooth of the rack-bar 25 which is directly adjacentthereto, and such engagement will cause the plate 26 to move laterally apredetermined distance. This distance should be sufficient to place thecharacter l of the scale of plate 26 in alignment with they line 30,thus registering, say one yard, of rope. The withdrawal of the ropeshould be continued until the requisite amount has been drawn out;whereupon, the pin should be removed and the knife-plate 45 operated tosever the measured from the unmeasured rope. When this has been done theplate 26 and disk 21 should be readjusted so as to be in readiness for asecond operation, or this may be left until it is desired to performsuch operation, when it maybe done with,of course, equal facility.

IVhen the length of rope to be withdrawn is so great that it cannot beeasily handled, the reel of shaft 36 may be used; and when the rope hasbeen wound thereon, the disk 39 may be removed so as to facilitateremoving the rope. By means of the set-screw 16 the wheel 11 may bepressed into engagement with the rope or cordage and the revolution ofwheel or disk 21 insured.

I have shown my invention embodied in the particular mechanism heredisclosed, since I regard this as best adapted to the purpose. It isobvious, however, that the invention is subject to various changes inthe size, proportion and arrangement of parts which may 45 be resortedto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and which willsuggest themselves to any skilled mechanic. Therefore, I do not proposeto limit myself to the precise construction herein shown, but considermyself entitled to all such variations as come within the spirit andscope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In a machine for measuringcordage, the combination of a reel for primarily receiving the cordage,a pair of horizontally-extending and parallel beams, a vertical shaft journaled therein, a disk fixed to the shaft and located between thebeams and by which the cordage passes on its way from the reel, a wheellocated between the beams and capable of pressing the cordage intoengagement with the periphery of the disk,the beams being slottedlongitudinally so as to afford longitudinallyadjustable bearings for thetrunnious of the wheel, a plate arranged at the outer side of each beamand bearing against the trunnious of the wheel, a vertically'extendingbeam pro jecting through the slots in the horizontal beam and engagedwith the plates aforesaid, an expansive rubber block bearing against thevertically-extending beam, whereby it and consequently the wheel isgiven a tendency toward the disk, a pin fitting on the shaft andprojecting radially therefrom, and an indicating plate provided with arack-bar adapted to be engaged by the pin, whereby the indicating plateis moved a degree at each revolution of the shaft, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JEFFERSON D. BOATWRIGHT.

Witnesses:

H. H. MATTHEWs, DAVID JOHNSTON.

